WELL BUILDING CERTIFICATION

¿WHAT’S WELL CERTIFICATION?

The WELL Building Standard® Certification is a system based on measuring, monitoring and certifying the performance of the built environment that impacts on human health and well-being through seven fundamental concepts: water, air, nourishment, lighting, fitness, comfort and mind; As well as 3 characteristics: behavior, operation and design. This system is created after seven years of deep medical research into the connection between buildings and the impact on the health, well-being and productivity of their occupants.

The main objective of this certification is to create a positive experience in the human being, reflected in an increase in their capacities for contemplation, concentration and productivity, reinforcing the social sense of individuals and motivating their sense of belonging to the environment. The WELL Certification helps the built environment improve nutrition, physical well-being, behavior, sleep patterns and productive performance of occupants.

¿HOW IS IT OBTAINED?

To obtain WELL certification, the project must demonstrate correct compliance with all the preconditions that this system uses referring to the seven fundamental concepts described above. To achieve higher levels of certification, there are optimizations. The preconditions of the scale are mandatory, while the optimizations are voluntary, meaning that, the project team defines which of these apply, identifying the most cost-effective for the project and its occupants.

SILVER LEVEL

It is obtained when the project meets 100% of the preconditions of its typology.

GOLD LEVEL

It is obtained when the project meets 100% of the preconditions and minimum 40% of the optimizations applicable to its typology.

PLATINUM LEVEL

It is obtained when the project meets 100% of the preconditions and minimum 80% of the optimizations applicable to its typology.

¿WHO CAN OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATION?

The well certification is available for any new or existing building through 3 available types:

NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS

Applies to any new or existing building and it has as its scope the design, construction and operation of it.

NEW AND EXISTING INTERIORS

Apply to commercial interior projects in existing buildings or do not consider a major remodeling.

CORE AND SHELL

Available for speculative buildings where the owner has control of 25% or less of the total project, and seeks to implement the basic conditions necessary to the base building for the benefit of future tenants

¿WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF WELL CERTIFICATION?

During the life cycle of a building, 90% of the expenses are directed towards the occupants of the building, so investing in actions focused on their welfare will effectively redeem these expenses.

Some of the benefits enjoyed by buildings with this certification are an improved environment for employees, customers and visitors; An increase in productivity and employee satisfaction; And therefore, their stay in the company. In addition, these multiple benefits are also transferred into tangible assets of every company by offering an avant-garde corporate image with a notorious attraction or retention of both clients and collaborators who inspire happiness, identity and culture of their own. It also highlights the company’s leadership through quality assurance, competitive differentiation, invaluable market value and an attractive return on investment when considering the benefits offered by this certification.

¿HOW HIGHER IS THE CERTIFICATION OVERCOST?

The additional cost of WELL Certification is variable for each project, depending on its typology and scale. Many elements required by WELL are not more expensive, but simply are more conscious and elaborate selections.

According to a pilot application of the WELL Building Certification in Los Angeles, California, high standards were reached regarding the experience of the occupants. With only an over-cost of + 1.74% versus the original budget, an environment where 83% of the occupants felt more productive and 90% of them affirmed that this new space has created a positive effect on their health, performance and encouraged interaction between collaborators.

¿ARE THERE WELL PROJECTS IN MEXICO?

Until January 15, 2017, there were 3 projects registered seeking for the WELL Certification in Mexico: two of them located in Mexico City and one in Nuevo León. Bioconstrucción y Energía Alternativa is looking to get WELL Certification in Mexico, with its own head offices being a pioneering case of study of this evaluation in the country. In addition, this project, BEA347, is led by the first WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) in Latin America, who is also part of the BEA team.

Download our FREE brochure about WELL Building Standard where you can find a simple summary about this system.